Samayasara

Author(s): Kundkundacharya, Jethalal S Zaveri
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 83

Chapter - 2
Samuyasāra
Annotations :
In previous verses (50 to 55) the author had enumerated many attributes which were finally stated/declared to be modifications of matter. Of these attributes such as colour, smell and the like (which were patently physical qualities and modes because they could be ascribed to the gross or physical body) were dealt with in the preceding verses (56 to 64). Now in these verses some more complex attributes (which are not so obviously material and cannot be ascribed to the physical body, because they are the results of the interaction of soul with karmic matter) are dealt with. Important among such attributes are jīvasthānas-classifications of living organisms i.e., souls subject to metempsychosis and gunasthānasstages of spiritual purification. Former are the results of the fruition of body-building (nāma) karma and āyușya karma. Thus ultimately they are modifications of karmic matter. Gunasthānas are fourteen stages of spiritual advancement on the path of emancipation. These stages are of the nature of purification due to the emergence of obscured qualities of the soul consequent upon the demolition or subsidence of the deluding karma. Thus ultimately both are modifications of karmic matter and not those of the soul.
Classification of Souls : Basically there are two categories of souls :
(i) Living organisms-those which move from birth to birth are subject to metempsychosis and
(ii) Those who are emancipated. All emancipated souls are exactly identical to one another and are, therefore, not subject to further division. Those subject to metempsychosis are classifiable from various aspects. One of these aspects is jāti i.e., number of senses possessed by the organism. Thus there are
(a) One-sensed organisms such as plants, (b) Two-sensed organisms such as worms, (c) Three-sensed organisms such as ants, (d) Four-sensed organisms such as bees and flies, and (e) Five-sensed organisms which include animals and humans.